Aug. 20, 2010
In 2009, the George Mason women's soccer team led the nation in win improvement as they won nine more games than the previous season. The Patriots led the Colonial Athletic Association in goals per game, assists per game and points and were tops in the league in saves and second in goals against average. But nine seniors graduated from that team including several four-year starters and five of the team's top seven goal scorer's. The Patriots also lost their goaltender to an offseason injury which will keep her out in 2010. So what will this season hold for Mason? More than likely, just as much offense and as stingy a defense as last year, when Mason went 14-4-2 with 11 shutouts.
The first look at the 2010 season will come on Saturday when the Patriots play an exhibition match against George Washington at George Mason Stadium at 6 p.m. The men's team will follow with an exhibition against Georgetown at approximately 8 p.m.
The Patriots return their top two goal scorers from last year in the form of redshirt senior Omolyn Davis, a NSCAA All-Region player after her first campaign with the Patriots, and sophomore Tiana Kallenberger, the reigning Virginia Freshman of the Year. They each had eight assists last year and Davis scored 10 goals with Kallenberger adding nine. Joining them on the Patriots' trademark three-forward frontline will be Zania Barnum. The junior who has played in every game since coming to Mason, has a goal and four assists in her career playing primarily in the midfield.
Providing depth at the forward position will be junior Zoe Doherty, sophomore Crissy Parker and true freshman Janice Johnson. Doherty, a member of the U-17 Ireland National Team, was brought into the program with the expectation of making an immediate impact as both a scorer and playmaker. Parker, a creative player, played in 12 games last season with five shots, two on goal. Johnson, an explosive and technical player, played last season at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Md.
"The forward line is experienced, diverse, explosive and very deep," said Mason head coach Diane Drake, who is entering her seventh season at the Patriots' helm. "We do not expect to see any changes in momentum when we sub."
There also will be a plethora of depth in the midfield. Senior Capricia Alston is slated to start at attacking mid with Barnum providing relief when not at the forward spot. Alston appeared in all 20 matches with three starts last season and she recorded a pair of goals on the year. Senior Kimmy Moss and junior Alyssa Andersen will start at wide midfield with redshirt junior Ashley Mims and junior Jordan McDonald backing them up.
Moss, who also runs track and is perhaps the most-fit Patriot, started 14 games in 2009 and she scored twice with an assist. Andersen played in 10 games while starting four and finishing with two assists. She suffered an injury midseason just as she was hitting her stride derailing a strong campaign. Mims is a junior who played two games last year after transferring from Radford. McDonald played in five games last season as a sophomore after playing one game as a freshman.
Holding midfield is expected to be filled by Mary Kate Lowry and Evan Feldman. Lowry, a sophomore who scored twice with an assist last year, played in 18 games with four starts. Feldman, a senior, has appeared in 15 games in her career including eight last season.
"The midfield is technically very skilled and incredibly athletic with quality depth at every spot," Drake said. "Three of the four midfielders have been quality returning starters with great experience."
The backline, which helped Mason to one of its best seasons ever in terms of fewest goals allowed, lowest goals-against average and shutouts, lost four-year starter Hannah Sklar. The Mason coaching staff went out and recruited a player they expect to be a four-year starter in the form of Abby Zielinski. The freshman from Lancaster, Pa. is a strong and fearless leader with tremendous vision who should start at right back. She will be joined on the backline by returning starters Nicole Peters at left back and Kelly Thomas at center back.
Peters started all 20 games last year and was second on the team in minutes played. A tremendous player in the air, she has played in every game since coming to Mason and she will be a captain in 2010. Thomas, who started all 17 games in which she played last year, is one of the quickest players on the team and has an excellent service. Providing depth on the back line is Cami Verschooris. Verschooris, a sophomore, played in two games last year and is a strong player in the air.
"The backline is fast, athletic and intelligent," Drake said. "We will continue to play in a three-back system."
The goalkeeper position was held down by Katie Frey most of last year. She was named to the CAA All-Rookie Team after turning in one of the top seasons in school history in the net. Frey will miss this season after suffering a back injury in the spring. That leaves the battle for minutes in net between a pair of juniors and a true freshman.
Alex Bodenschatz has appeared six times in net with three starts and a 1.53 goals-against average. She has a 2-1-0 career mark. She started most of the matches in net this past spring. Melissa Mailley started six games as a freshman and one game last season. She is 2-4-1 in net and she has a 2.46 goals-against average. Added to the mix is Lyndse Hokanson, who played last season at South River High School in Crofton, Md. Hokanson is a very technical leader and a strong organizer but lacks in collegiate experience.
"Alex has an edge at the starting goalkeeper spot, but will be challenged by Hokanson and Mailley," Drake said. "All three have unique abilities and we are excited about their diversity and talents."
This year's schedule sees Mason play just two non-conference games at home but all their non-conference road games are either in either Maryland or D.C. The Patriots will play an exhibition match against George Washington at home on Aug. 21 then open the season at Howard on Wed., Aug. 25. The first home game will be Sun., Aug. 29 against Navy at 3 p.m. Two days later, the Patriots will play at Mount St. Mary's, and Labor Day weekend, there are matches at Georgetown against the Hoyas and American. Mason's final non-conference home game is Wed., Sept. 8 against VMI. The Patriots will play at UMBC and at Maryland to finish off the non-conference slate.
The conference schedule opens with home games against Old Dominion, William & Mary and VCU and after trips to James Madison, Northeastern and Hofstra, the Patriots will host UNCW and Georgia State in their final two home games. The regular season will conclude with road games at Delaware, Drexel and Towson. The CAA Tournament, which will feature the top four teams in the conference, will be played Nov. 5 and 7 at the home of the regular-season champion. Mason tied for fourth last year but missed the CAA Tournament due to a tiebreaker.
"We basically have created a four-phase schedule for our 2010 team," Drake said. "Once again this schedule is highly regionalized. Our first phase is preseason with a fiery scrimmage against local rival George Washington. Our second phase has two nationally recognized teams in 2009 Elite 8 participant Maryland and Big East power, Georgetown. During this phase we also will play strong regionally recognized matches against Navy and American which will definitely prepare us for conference play.
"We also continue our home and home series with greatly improved squads Howard, Mt St Mary's, VMI and UMBC. This gives us a nice balance to prepare for phase three of our season which is conference play. Lastly, phase four is the quintessential goal, and this is post season play."
With a powerful offense a solid defense and a strong schedule, the postseason could very well be in the cards for the Patriots in 2010.
